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Library Collections Policy & Guidelines

The Library takes an evidence-informed and holistic approach to developing and sustaining collections to advance scholarship and learning at the University of Guelph

The library’s circulating collection is not static. We do not retain every item purchased in perpetuity; however, items accepted into Archival and Special Collections are retained in accordance with its own collecting mandate.

Similarly, our digital collections are not static. We do not no offer long-term preservation for every item.

The Library takes different stewardship responsibilities for collections of use and collections of record

Open Access: The Library supports a variety of open access initiatives in order to facilitate the widest possible dissemination of knowledge

Collections of use: built and managed to support everyday curriculum and research activities at the University of Guelph [no long term preservation/stewardship responsibilities]

Collections of record: built and curated to support Guelph’s contributions to the long term stewardship of the scholarly record

(3) The Library builds and manages “collections of use” that are:

Available in a timely manner

Easily discoverable, accessible and compatible with tools that scholars use in their everyday lives

(4) The Library builds and curates a limited range of “collections of record” (for which we take long-term stewardship responsibility) in:

Veterinary science

Ontario agriculture, apiculture, agricultural history, rural heritage

Landscape architecture

Canadian theatre

Lucy Maud Montgomery

Scottish studies

Food: Canadian culinary history

Guelph theses and dissertations

Guelph research products

Guelph Open Access Journals

(5) McLaughlin Library plays a critical role in upholding intellectual freedom. We strive to acquire and make available the widest variety of materials, including those that may be considered unconventional, unpopular, or unacceptable.

As a member of Canadian Association of Research Libraries (CARL) the McLaughlin Library supports the Statement of Freedom of Expression in Research Libraries (adopted by CARL membership, ca. 1987):

All persons in Canada have a fundamental right, as embodied in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the Bill of Rights, to have access to all expressions of knowledge, creativity and intellectual activity.

It is the responsibility of research libraries to facilitate access to all expressions of knowledge, opinion, intellectual activity and creativity from all periods of history to the current era including those which some may consider unconventional, unpopular, unorthodox or unacceptable.

To this end research libraries shall acquire and make available, through purchase or resource sharing, the widest variety of materials that support the scholarly pursuits of their communities. (Source: CARL Guiding Principles – Freedom of Expression)

University of Guelph Library Collection Guidelines

Languages

The Library normally only acquires English-language materials other than to support language curricula.

Multiple Copies

Normally the Library does not purchase multiple copies. We will purchase the same book in multiple formats, as required